179072017-09-16High Pressure Oxygen Generation for Future Exploration Missions, Phase ICompletedJun 2014Dec 2014The proposed innovation is the development of a cathode feed electrolysis cell stack capable of generating 3600 psia oxygen at a relevant scale for future exploration missions. This innovation is relevant to NASA's need for compact, quiet, efficient, and long-lived sources of pressurized oxygen for atmosphere revitalization (AR) and EVA oxygen storage recharge. Present AR equipment aboard International Space Station (ISS) consists of power-intensive, noisy compressors that have service lives less than 2 years. Proton's proposed electrolyzer stack will eliminate the need for these compressors, by developing a cell stack that can produce 3600 psia oxygen via electrochemical compression. This innovation results in a quiet, efficient solid state device with no internal moving parts to service or fail.Potential NASA Commercial Applications: Based on Proton's unique experience in commercializing PEM-based products, transitioning to NASA, DOD, and developing civilian commercial applications are important outcomes of this technology development effort. The NASA applications for this technology are clear: providing pressurized oxygen refill capability to a number of scenarios including ISS, EMU, and future lunar surface systems. Civilian commercial derivatives of this technology would be enabling technology for a variety of energy storage applications. High pressure electrolysis provides the key capability for volumetrically dense hydrogen and oxygen storage. Impacts of this technology on military operations include enabling high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle operations and a variety of underwater vehicle operations, especially unmanned underwater vehicles. The similarity between the high altitude and undersea applications is that both require the storage of oxidant in addition to the storage of fuel. High altitude UAV's can be used for missile defense, surveillance and communications. Undersea applications include long-term distributed data gathering with long endurance buoys, transport of special forces personnel, and mine neutralization among others. In short, the proposed effort will support the development of an enabling technology for a variety of applications that require high pressure hydrogen and/or oxygen for energy storage and life support.44432446Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems32886.1Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Habitation Systems37196.1.1Air RevitalizationSBIR/STTRSpace Technology Mission DirectorateMarshall Space Flight CenterMSFCNASA CenterHuntsvilleALProton Energy Systems, Inc.IndustryWallingfordCTAlabamaConnecticutTherese GriebelCarlos TorrezKevin C TakadaLuke Dalton4911Project ImageImageHigh Pressure Oxygen Generation for Future Exploration Missions Project Image4511https://techport.nasa.gov/file/451137319